The Red Book of Westmarch (Archives)

FARK.com directed me to a post entitled “10 Reasons why Gandalf is a terrible wizard.” The reason I decided to write a point-by-point response isn’t because I felt the need to rush to Gandalf’s defense, but because I don’t think the post is very well thought-out. If you’re going to go after Mithrandir, at least put some real effort into it.

Although Tolkien’s fantasy novels are tales told by Hobbits, and tell the adventures of Hobbits, a case can be made that the real protagonist of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is the wizard Gandalf. Except for Elrond Half-elven, Gandalf is the only character who plays a key part in the events of both those novels and The Silmarillion.

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